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Thursday, September 25, 2014

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! - Ps 133:1

SANDAKAN : On Sunday, 21st September 2014, some 50 Christian students who have just enrolled into University Malaysia Sabah ( UMS ), Sandakan gathered for a welcoming event ~ 'welcoming the juniors to the campus' organized by the seniors.

Apart from extending our arms to welcome them, the program is also an assurance that they are not alone in the campus. They will have the Brothers and Sisters In Christ ( BASIC ) to journey with them throughout their campus life in Sandakan.

The program started with a praise and worship session led by Christopher Aban and group members, followed by games conducted by Anna Teresa, the Diocesan Youth Coordinator. The new president, Emanuel from Bintulu, Sarawak introduced BASIC, its structure, aims and objectives. He introduced the new committee members of BASIC and he also presented some slides on the activities carried out for the year 2014.

Before the program ended, Rem, also a student from Sarawak, expressed his hope that members will have the zeal to spur one another on, to commit to turn up for all other gatherings and activities. He urged the students to always stay united. He then led the Closing Prayer. It was a night filled with hope, love and joy.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Tawau : Passing on our
faith to the next generation needs commitment and perseverance. Children deserve to receive the fundamentals and
the basics of their faith especially through their parents.

The facilitators of the Children's Liturgy of Holy Trinity Parish Tawau organized a one-day Rosary
Workshop on 16th September 2014 for children aged 10 years and above. It was attended
by some 30 students, English Sunday School teachers and parents. The workshop commenced from 9.00 am to 4.00 pm.

The workshop aimed to help students in deepening their faith about Mother
Mary through the knowledge of the Holy Rosary.

Topics covered
during the workshop were :

1. What is the Rosary?

2. How the
Rosary began?

3. Apparitions
of Mother Mary

4. The promises
given to St Dominic to those who recite the Rosary

5. Blessings
and benefits of saying the Rosary.

6. The
different mysteries that tells the life of Jesus.

7. How to
answer questions on Mary and the Rosary

The session concluded with students making their own Rosary, assisted by facilitators, teachers and parents. The activity promoted creativity and the interaction helped develop a closer relationship bond.

The children left the
workshop with their handmade rosaries which they were proud of. The organizers hoped that through the workshop students will be encouraged to recite the Holy Rosary and say it
with more conviction and pride.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Tawau : The Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) are acknowledged as a new way of "being church." It brings Christ to the family, community within the neighborhood. It is a church at the grass root. BECs are formed, based on the geographical location of the neighborhood. Families gather to listen and share the Word, proclaiming it and giving witness to it as members of a big family.

BECs remain the pastoral thrust of the Diocese of Sandakan since its inception in 2007. It is an effective way of evangelization and thus BECs is one of the most active movement in Holy Trinity Parish. Msgr Nicholas Ong, the rector has been most instrumental about BECs and has been going round to promote the concept. To date, there are 56 BECs established in the Parish.

Danny and Julita facilitated sessions on 'The Christian Community' for all nominated members on Monday, 1st
September followed by election on Sunday, 7th September.

After going through the catechesis sessions and selection procedures, the newly selected members of the BEC Core Group for Holy Trinity Parish Tawau were commissioned on Saturday, 13th September 2014 during sunset Mass.

In order to sustain continuity and provide support to the new line up, members of the ad-hoc committee remained as a "consultative body." They shall render assistance and guidance to the new line-up when necessary.

Provide continuous monitoring to each BEC area in term of their activities, involvement of their members in church programs, visit by the Core Group members, priests / religious or other groups such as the Family Life members and other spiritual needs to the particular BEC area

Organize faith formation to the main core group team as well as to all BEC facilitators or coordinators through talks, workshops, recollections or any spiritual input conducted by other church groups.

Identify potential areas to form BECs.

Involve BECs in church programs such as home carolling, organizing Mass, holding a BEC Day or participate in Parish Feast day celebration.

Cooperate with other groups in the church especially the rector and the Pastoral Council.

Sustain good communication and relationship bond within members of the BEC area and other groups/ ministries in the church.

most of all, to be bound to the church teaching and mission.

The first BEC Core Group meeting was held on Sunday, 14th September with Msgr Nicholas Ong, presiding over the meeting.

Tawau : Some 100 members of the LOM ( Legion of Mary ) of the 3 main language ( BM, Chinese and English ) gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Legion of Mary – English Praesidium known as “Mother of Divine Grace” on Saturday, 6th of September 2014 at the Parish canteen.

The Golden Anniversary dinner fellowship took place in the evening after a half-day recollection conducted in the morning, facilitated by Patrick Benjamin, the Vice-President, Comittium of Kota Kinabalu. The Comittium is responsible in looking after the Bahasa Malaysia curia in Tawau.

The Legion of Mary at Holy Trinity Parish Tawau was first
introduced by the late Rev. Fr. Lampe in 1956 where Rev. Fr. Beckhema was the
rector. It then slowly took root and was well accepted by the
parishioners.

1964 marked the formal formation of this group when most of the Convent girls became members. This
group known as "Mother of Divine Grace" was led by two priests, Fr.
Kouthers and Fr. Hurley. It was then divided into two praesidiums due to the
increasing number of members. The second group formalized in March 2001 was named "Mother of
Perpetual Help Succour."

In the early days, legionaries contributed towards the cleaning of the the church compound and promoting the recitation of
the Holy Rosary.Impressed by their commitment and the success achieved, the Tawau Chinese Curia, called "Queen of family" was eventually set up in 1995 during Fr. Aloysius
Tung's ( the rector ) time. Michael Wong was appointed as the Curia President at that time .

A short history of the formation of LOM at Holy Trinity Parish;

1956 – first introduced by Fr. Lampe

1964 – English praesidium called "Mother of the Divine Grace" later divided into two in 2001 called "Mother of Perpetual Succour"

1987 – Chinese Praesidium called "Queen Of Peace"

1995 - Chinese Curia formed, called "Queen Of Family"

2014 - Bahasa Malaysia Curia called "Mother Mediatrix of all Graces"

At present, there are 118 legionaries at Holy
Trinity Parish Tawau with 12 auxiliary
members in 9 Praesidiums, 3 from the English, 5 from the Chinese and 1 Bahasa Malaysia.

Currently, legionaries journey closely with other groups in serving the church such as at the RCIA, Sunday
School, Canteen service, Novena devotion and other spiritual and social activities.

Present at the occasion were Msgr Nicholas Ong, the rector, Sr Lisa fsic and Sr Aquinas Voon fsic. Apart from some entertainment presentations, senior members were honored and were presented with mementos as a token of appreciation and recognition of their dedicated service.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Sandakan : Bishop Julius
Dusin Gitom blessed the building site and graced the ground breaking ceremony for the proposed new hall for St. Mark's Church, some 20 kilometers from town, yesterday 14th September 2014. The ceremony marked the start of the construction.The new building, a 30 feet by 100 feet two-storey concrete structure is an extension of the existing hall, behind the church. The proposed building runs parallel to the existing hall, which is 18 feet apart. The gap will be covered, to add space to the hall and when completed, may accommodate some 600 people for church functions and community activities. The first floor of 4 classrooms will be used for catechism classes.

Present to witness the occasion were, Michael Lai, St Mary's Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council Vice-Chairman, David Chung, the Parish Finance Committee Chairman, Peter Thien, the Parish Property Management Committee, John Pang, Dimeh Koyopo, St Mark's Pastoral Committee Chairman and his committee members.St Mark's Church, built in 1993 sits on a two-acre site with a multi-purpose hall constructed behind the church, to cater to the then small Catholic community. With the ever increasing number of parishioners over the years, both local and foreign, the need to extend the hall is felt. The new extension is expected to be completed before 14th April 2015.

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Telupid : Progress work on the proposed St Martin's Pastoral Centre, measuring 70 feet by 100 feet costing some RM800,000 is according to schedule. The concrete floor slab has been completed and the reinforced concrete columns are in place.

Rebar works for the ground beam at the entrance and at the first roof beam are in progress.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Sandakan : Rt Rev Julius Dusin Gitom, Bishop of Sandakan signed the contract for the extension of St Mark's Multi Purpose Hall, some 20 km from town, this morning 12th September 2014 at St Mary's Cathedral Parish Conference Room. Peter Lo, signed on behalf of Terusan Enterprise, the successful bidder for the project.

The extension, a double-storey concrete building measuring some 30 feet by 100 feet, consists of 4 classrooms on the first floor and an open hall on the ground floor. It shall run parallel to the existing hall at a gap of some 18 feet which shall be covered on completion of the proposed extension.

The total cost of the project is RM800,000 (RM Eight Hundred Thousand Only). The project is expected to take some seven months to complete and the contractor assured that the handing over shall be on or before 14th April 2015.

Bishop Julius extended his appreciation to those who had initiated the extension especially John Pang who has been very instrumental of the project. He expressed his full confidence in the Building Committee and the contractor that the project would be completed as scheduled.

The prelate urged everyone in the Cathedral Parish under the capable leadership of Fr Thomas to generously assist the sub-parish to solicit for funds for the project. With the involvement and the cooperation of the faithful, things will work out accordingly to His will.

The ground breaking ceremony shall be graced by Bishop Julius on Sunday, 14th September at 10.30 am, after the Bahasa Malaysia mass.

CATHOLIC TUBE

MSGR. NICHOLAS ONG SUNDAY HOMILY

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PASTORAL OFFICEJalan Puncak, 90000. P O Box 2039, 90723 Sandakan, Sabah, MalaysiaTel : (089) 224623, (089) 217071 Fax : (089) 218623email: dospo1@gmail.com, diocesesandakan@yahoo.com,This blog is created to disseminate information of the Diocese of Sandakan which covers the Parish of St Mary’s Cathedral Sandakan, St Martin Telupid, St Dominic Lahad Datu and Holy Trinity Tawau. The Pastoral Team of the Diocese of Sandakan will endeavor to update you on the latest and upcoming events of the Diocese. We have also established links to various related websites for to visit.